The postings contained in this collection were all done BEFORE Trimet regulations were adopted limiting blog activities of all Trimet employees. It's the personal collection of the blog owner:
alyourpalster@gmail.com

ARY | The region's largest public bus system was thrown into chaos Monday asGary Public Transportation Corp. bus drivers called in sick to protest stalledcontract talks.

"I'm not going to make it to work in time," GPTC rider Latasha Amos said as shewaited for the Tri-City Connection at the Metro Center on Monday morning. "Allwe know is there is only one bus running this route, and we don't know when itwill be here."

Hundreds of other GPTC riders were in the same position as Amos, as some beganhiking miles to work or other bus stops when buses didn't show.

On Monday night, GPTC General Manager Daryl Lampkins said all buses should berunning on a normal schedule today. He indicated he had talked to the unionabout its work stoppage.

"Full service is expected," Lampkins said. "Maybe we kissed and made up."

GPTC routes serve six communities, stretching from Hammond to Hobart.

To make matters even worse for riders on Monday, planned service reductionsstarted on six GPTC routes. Those service reductions have been in the works formonths due to the city's budget crisis.

Stephan Mitchell, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local No. 517, saidabout 40 of the city's 52 bus drivers stayed home Monday, with many calling inclaiming they were ill.

He said GPTC "refuses to bargain in good faith" on a new contract for drivers.He said the previous contract expired earlier this month.

"Even to get a meeting set up is a problem," he said.

Lampkins said the bus company has "made every effort" to negotiate in good faithwith the union. He said he wanted to start negotiations as early as December,but union officials took months to review GPTC's initial offerings.

"We are willing to work with the union," Lampkins said. "But every time there isa problem, this is their reaction."

Mitchell accused Lampkins of "running a dictatorship" and instituting changeswithout consulting with the union.

Lampkins said he has conferred with the union at every turn and has abided bythe contract.

"But I have changed many things," Lampkins said. "We are trying to survive.Things just can't stay the same."

Lampkins said about 95 percent of drivers called in sick on Monday and thatsupervisors and others were filling in and keeping as many buses running aspossible. Lampkins was working as a dispatcher Monday and answering calls fromfrustrated riders when a Times reporter called.

Early in the morning, some routes were barely covered, with one bus making stopsalong several of them.

Lampkins said some recent back-and-forth negotiations on an overtime provisionin the contract might have led to Monday's work stoppage by drivers.

GPTC will suffer an estimated $511,707 cut in revenue due to state-mandatedproperty tax caps.